Akarethrips gen.n.

(Figs 6–11)

Small-sized Phlaeothripinae with unusually short maxillary stylets; body surface weakly sculptured; head longer than wide, cheeks incut just behind eyes (Fig. 6); eyes equally developed on dorsal and ventral surfaces, all ommatidia of equal size; postocular setae well-developed; stylets wide apart, V-shaped, not retracted anterior to postoccipital ridge (Figs 6, 8); antennae 8-segmented, VIII fused to VII but with weakly complete suture (Fig. 11), III with 3 slender sensoria, IV with 4, V and VI each with 2 similar sensoria; pronotum with 5 pairs of capitate setae, notopleural sutures complete; basantra present in male, weak in female; mesopresternum divided into three sclerites, median sclerite with pair of setae (Fig. 8); sternopleural sutures absent; fore tarsal tooth present in both sexes; fore wings constricted medially, with duplicated cilia (Fig. 7); pelta slightly hat-shaped (Fig. 9); tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae; tergite IX with setae S1 and S2 of female expanded at apex; tube with straight sides, shorter than head; male tergite IX setae S2 short and stout (Fig. 10), sternite VIII without pore plate. Type species: Akarethrips iotus sp.n.

Comments. This new genus shares character states of the fore wing and prosternum with genera of the Haplothripini . Amongst the genera of that tribe in which species have three sensoria on the third segment (Mound & Minaei 2007; Minaei et al. 2007) it is distinguished by the exceptionally short maxillary stylets that are scarcely retracted into the head.